Brant Community Healthcare System

ThumbsUp Spotlight: Dr. Rajbir Rai! 🎉 Dr. Rai was nominated 4 times for being such a pleasure to work with in the Ambulatory Care Unit. He is extremely appreciative of the hard work of those around him and offers kindness and generosity in all that he does. Dr. Rai fosters a comfortable and positive work environment and shows incredible patience and understanding with those in his care. Please join us in thanking Dr. Rai for all that he does for the BCHS and beyond.

Did you know that BCHS has nearly 300 volunteers!? Our volunteers are a cornerstone of our organization and truly embody our mission of working together to build a healthier community. Whether they are assisting patients and families, providing administrative support, or lending a helping hand wherever it's needed, their contributions play an invaluable role in enhancing the patient and family experience here at BCHS. In celebration of National Volunteer Week, we asked our volunteers what volunteering at BCHS means to them. Thank you to our volunteers for your tireless dedication, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to serving others Interested in joining us as a BCHS volunteer? Visit www.bchsys.org/volunteer to learn how!

April is BeADonor Month 💚 Today in Ontario there are approximately 1100 people waiting to receive a lifesaving organ transplant. Every 3 days someone dies waiting for that transplant, and while 90% of Ontarians support organ donation, only 35% have registered. We still need to have conversations that turn 8.4 million unregistered Ontarians into registered donors! Last year at the Brant Community Healthcare System, 1 patient saved the lives of 3 others through organ donation, while 26 patients gave the gift of tissue donation. Be the person that gives others hope 💚 Register, check, or update your donor status 🔗 www.beadonor.ca

Recently the BCHS Foundation proudly hosted our inaugural Iftar Dinner. Before breaking their daily Ramadan fast, members of the local community were welcomed with remarks by Foundation Board of Directors Chair Dr. Lee Ferrao; Brant Community Healthcare System Interim President & CEO Erin Sleeth; BCHS Director of DEIB Ruby Latif, BCHS Chief & Medical Director of Emergency Medicine Dr. Somaiah Ahmed; as well as local Imam Abu Norman Tarek. To learn more and view highlights from the evening please visit https://lnkd.in/gBQGKhyb

We were thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of our new cafeteria this morning! Terrace Bistro, located on D-wing Main at the Brantford General Hospital, is proud to offer fresh, delicious food options for our community and staff. This highly-anticipated and exciting step for BCHS was made possible by the hard work and dedication of many at the organization and we are so grateful for their efforts. Terrace Bistro current menu and hours can be found at bchsys.org: 🔗 https://shorturl.at/aeDEH

On April 8 (today), a solar eclipse will cross North America, including Brantford and the County of Brant, specifically a total solar eclipse will begin at around 2:03 p.m. and last until 4:30 p.m., with the peak occurring at 3:18 p.m. 📣 Please be reminded that at BCHS, appointments and care will continue as scheduled on April 8. Please plan accordingly, especially if your appointment is during the same period. If you are seeking emergency care, never hesitate to seek the care you need it, but please be mindful about the solar eclipse and how it may affect the traffic around you. Here are some tips for safely viewing the solar eclipse: 🌞 Do Not Look Directly at the Eclipse 🌞 Use Approved Solar Eclipse Viewers 🌞 Inspect Your Viewer or Filter 🌞 Avoid Improper Filters 🌞 Child Supervision This eclipse is a unique event for us all, but safety comes first. Thank you for helping to make this eclipse viewing safe and enjoyable.

In support of organ and tissue donation, BCHS staff wear green in recognition of #GreenShirtDay Green Shirt Day was created to honour, remember, and recognize all the victims and families of the Humboldt Broncos Bus Tragedy. It's also a way to continue the Logan Boulet Effect, by inspiring Canadians to talk to their families and register as organ donors. For more information, please visit the links below: 💚 www.beadonor.ca 💚 www.giftoflife.on.ca 💚 www.greenshirtday.ca

From the minute you enter Brantford General Hospital (BGH) and The Willett, you can easily spot the 300 volunteers as they go about their duties wearing their blue uniforms. It may be right inside the hospital entrance where a volunteer will greet you and provide directions to where you are headed. Or it may be providing patients a convenient wheelchair ride when they are discharged home. “The Brant Community Healthcare System Volunteer Association supplements our physicians and staff," Kari Astles, Senior Coordinator Volunteer Engagement said recently. “Our volunteers do not replace the staff, but instead enhance the care patients and families receive.” “Our hospital volunteers are not only ‘a nice to have,’ but they truly are also the icing on the cake.” 📣 Visit www.bchsys.org/volunteer to learn more about volunteering at BCHS. 📰 Read the full Hospital Insider 🔗 https://shorturl.at/twJKO

April is BeADonor Month 💚 We would like to start the month by introducing you to Barb Longo 👋 Throughout her career here at BCHS, Barb was the Clinical Manager of Critical Care and Respiratory, and the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) Hospital Lead, and most recently a Clinical Informatic Project Coordinator. In addition to being the recipient of the 2020 TGLN Hospital Champion Award, Barb is also a living donor who is passionate about raising awareness for BeADonor Month. "As a nurse, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside dedicated healthcare teams who support families in honouring the wishes of someone who registered as an organ and tissue donor," says Barb. "As a volunteer with the Transplant Ambassador Program, I’ve met many transplant recipients who share immense gratitude for their organ donors." "As a living donor, a decision to donate my kidney to my husband changed his life and allowed him to enjoy the things most important to him." 💚 Read Barb's full story at the link below ⤵️ 🔗 https://shorturl.at/tQRS3 You can also register, check, or update your donor status at 🔗 http://beadonor.ca

The Peer Support Program at the Brant Community Healthcare System recently celebrated its 1-year milestone. “People who choose to work in healthcare, particularly acute hospital settings, know upfront that it is a caring environment where we help patients and families through what can often be very traumatic and stressful situations,” Cindy Hayward-Dale said, Interim Director of Organizational Health, Organizational Development, and Volunteer Engagement. Realizing the emotional and mental health of employees needed to be addressed, Hayward-Dale and others in her department set out to make a change in the lives of the hospital caregivers. The result is the Peer Support Program, an emotional support service designed to improve the psychological health and safety, resiliency, well-being, and sustainability of all employees, physicians, and volunteers at the BGH and Willett Hospitals. 📰 Read the full Hospital Insider article 🔗 https://shorturl.at/jxCU5